Look, he’s a veteran. He knows the tricks of the trade, the ins and outs, the goings-on. He’s been around the block once or twice, and at almost 30 years old, this isn’t exactly his first rodeo.

Only, this is his first rodeo. Or will be, rather.

After a long career of playing for teams that ranged from completely inept to sub-mediocre, Jamal Crawford, in his tenth NBA season, will finally make it to the playoffs. Think about that. Ten. Years. A player of Crawford’s caliber has toiled away (sometimes due to his own faults) on losing team after losing team, and only now will he get his first taste of post-season glory.

His streak reached 659 games Monday night against the Knicks. It
will come to a finish at the end of this season at 679 games when the
Hawks get ready for the playoffs. They are comfortably in second place
in the Southeast Division and a near lock for home-court advantage in
the first round.

“I always said the thing that bothered me most about it was I
actually hadn’t experienced the big games in front of the crowd like
that,” Crawford said. “I just think on that stage, I’m at my best.”